Improvement iis



ROBERT H. ISBELL, OF NEW MILFORI), CONNECTICUT.

IMPRQVEMENT n MEQHANISMS FQR Q-RNAMENUNG BUTTQN-S- Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 169,268, dated October 26, 1875; applicationfiled October 27, 1873.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. ISBELL, of New Milford, in the county ofLitchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain Improvementsin Means of Ornamenting Buttons, of which the following is aspecification:

This invention comprises the ornamentation in color of buttons andsimilar articles, by covering a portion of they surfaces of sucharticles with threads, and then distributing the color, by suitablemechanical means, upon the unprotected portions of such surfaces. Theinvention also comprises certain novel combinations of mechanicaldevices, whereby the aforesaid feature of the invention is successfullycarried into practice.

Figure 1 is a side view and partial vertical section of the apparatus,and Fig. 2 is a plan View and partial horizontal section of the same.

A is the supporting frame-work of the ma-- chine, furnished on its upperside with two horizontal guides, at, upon which runs a carriage, B. Thiscarriage has at each end an upright cleat, b. From one to the other ofthese cleats is extended a series of parallel threads, 0, the threadsbeing at a distance apart corresponding to the space desired between thecolor-marking on the ornamented button, or the like. These threads aredrawn to a moderate tightness or tension by any suitable or desiredmeans. In the bottom of the carriage B is a disk, fiat on top, butspiral on the under side, and fitting into a seat in thecarriage-bottom, in such manner that when turned by rotating thethumb-piece d of its shaft 0, it will rise or lift up, the aforesaiddisk constituting a cam, D, for lifting the board, 0, placed upon it, asshown in Fig. 1. This board is indented in its upper surface withnumerous cavities, a. which receive the buttons, a",to be ornamented,and retain them with their upper surfaces projecting somewhat above thecorresponding surface of the board C. -By turning the disk or cam D, asjust hereinbefore explained, the board is lifted until the buttons arebrought up snugly against the threads 0. Sustained by suitable hearingsin the standards f is the shaft 0 of the cylindrical brush E, upon theouter end of which shaft is a pulley, g, furnished with a crank, f. Uponthe frame A, below, are two pulleys, g 9. At the outer end of thecarriage B is a pulley, h, and at-the inner or opposite end a horizontalarm, m, which carries a pulley, m. An endless band, 1, passes over thesepulleys, as shown in Fig. 1; and upon the extremity of the arm m is a'cam-lever, "r, by which, on occasion, the band may be grip'ed againstthe pulley m, thereby attaching, for the time being, the carriage to adefinite point or portion of "the band.

Under this condition the rotation of the crank in the directionindicated by the arrows causes the carriage to be drawn inward, passingunderneath the brush, and at a speed bearing a proper proportion to thatof the rotation of the latter. Provided behind the brush is a trough, F,containing, in liquid form, the coloring matter to be applied to thebuttons; and revolving in this trough is a feed-roller, Gr, working incontact with the brush, and supplying color thereto. H is a scraper,arranged behind the feed-roller, and regulating the thickness of thefilm or coating of color thereon as it comes in contact with the brush.The roller is rotated by a band, n, running on pulleys d 12, provided onthe shaftsof the roller and the brush. Provided in front of the brush,parallel and in snug or forcible contact therewith, is a troughshapedcheck-bar, I, below which,.with its edge projecting somewhat fartherback, is a trough, W.

In the operation of the machine the carriage is drawn back toward andunder the brush simultaneous with the rotation of the latter, ashereinbefore explained. The brush being charged with liquid color fromthe feed-roller,

and its bristles striking forcibly against the check-bar I, the colorspatters in fine drops upon the surface of the buttons (carried on theboard, as hereinbefore set forth) not protected by the threads 0, lyingupon or in snug contact therewith. As a consequence, (after theecarriagehas been run back to the rear of the frame A,) when the buttons areremoved from beneath the threads 0, the portions of their surfacesprotected by the threads retain their original or primitive color, whilethe intervening portions are colored by the material distributed uponthem by the spatterin g from the brush, as aforesaid. By turning theboard one-half way around, and repeating the operation, the pattern maybe made in checks upon the buttons, instead of in parallel lines, andbymodifying, in other ways, the position of the buttons with referenceto the threads, a variety of modified patterns may be produced. 7 Inorder to change the position of the board in the carriage, or to permitits removal therefrom, it is only necessary to turn the cam D to lowerthe aforesaid board.

The function of the trough m is to catch from the brush, after itscontact with the checkbar, any larger drops or accretions of liquid thatmight otherwise fall upon the carriage during its movement, and therebymar the work.

By loosening the cam-lever 1" after the carriage has been brought to therear of the frame A, the carriage may be run forward to its originalposition without the intervention of the system of pulleys connectedwith the band '12.

What I claim as my invention is- 1 The carriage B, provided with thethreads, and constructed for the reception of the buttons, substantiallyas described, in combination with the spattering-brush E, substantiallyas and forthe purpose set forth.

rying the threads 0, of the button-board 0, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. The combinatiomwith the carriage B, oarrying the system of threadscandthe buttonboard 0, of a lifting device, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. The combination, with the carriage B and the brush E, of the pulleysg m g g h and the band 1, arranged for operationsubstantially as setforth.

ROBERT E. IS BELL.

Witnesses i JAMES A. WHITNEY, CHAS. E. QUE-TEL.

